Car hits pedestrians near Muslim center

LONDON — British police are investigating a possible hate crime after a car hit pedestrians near a Muslim community center, injuring three people.

Police were called early Wednesday after a confrontation developed between four people in a car and a large group of people visiting a Muslim community center and mosque in the Cricklewood area of northwest London.

Officials said some anti-Muslim comments were made and the car reportedly sustained minor damage from some of the people from the center. It then sped off, mounting the pavement twice, and hitting three people without stopping.

Police said the injuries are not life-threatening although two people needed hospital treatment. The case is not being treated as related to terrorism.

“It is being dealt with as an Islamophobic hate crime and it is being dealt with as a racist hate crime,” said Simon Rose, the metropolitan police chief superintendent.

The Hussaini Association, which had organized a lecture at the mosque, called the incident “a suspected premeditated Islamophobic attack.”

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